Sonata Arctica
Unia

THE REVIEW

In Finnish "Sogni", "Unia" is an album that completely departs from the previous productions of Sonata Arctica in its approach to songwriting (music, arrangements...) and its production, which is decidedly different from their excellent debut "Ecliptica" by the Finnish band.

I have followed the artistic and stylistic path of the band since the beginning with that "Ecliptica" which owed much credit to the lesson of the more speedy and power-driven Stratovarius, with pompous orchestrations and catchy melodies.

Well, in "Unia" all of this (except in rare episodes) disappears. It gives way to compositions that are very complex and difficult to assimilate on a first quick listen. If we exclude the single "Paid In Full" or the wonderful ballad "Under Your Tree", Unia remains a standalone work, with breathtaking production and a singer who decidedly no longer sings in extremely high-pitched tones with sharp celestial notes, but prefers to sing with a masculine voice, sometimes soft and most of the time angry and tough.

"Unia" is an introspective and dynamic journey through songs that are supported by perfect sound walls and concatenated riffs that leave little space for the listener's imagination. This is "Unia": a record that doesn't immediately hit with immediacy or ease of assimilation but over time will manage to break through even in the hearts of fans. And this for obvious reasons. One of the many, evidently, is that Sonata Arctica must be really tired of emulating other bands and are looking to find experimental and innovative solutions, outside the normal power-speedy field they had accustomed us to with albums like their debut or "Silence". And this is precisely where I appreciated "Unia", a truly "dreamlike" album characterized by an infinity of nuances, at times power, at times more heavy, at times prog (in certain parts of "The Vice"), at times even folk ("My Dream's But A Drop Of Fuel For A Nightmare").

The strength was creating a blend of forces tied to all these sound matrices without ever falling into the gaudy.

However, I will be imprecise in saying that this album is a masterpiece because it contains tracks that, although beautiful and well-built, can bore the listener and others that get lost in self-indulgence, without truly understanding where they want to lead.

Nevertheless, overall, "Unia" remains an excellent work of power metal by Sonata Arctica, well played, better produced, supported by a chilling rhythmic section and divinely sung.

Overwhelming.